Hello. We attended the meeting last evening, 02/09/2021, via ZOOM, but could not find where to raise our hand. There were many different documents that covered the screen and several discussions going on in between, that we were attempting to listen to. There was also excessive background noise, that one of you did ask for whoever had their radio/tv on to please mute themselves. Unfortunately, it continued. There was a lot of cross-talking and even when asked if anyone had questions, we could not get ours in.
We are now questioning that the ballot stated "about $5130.00", with all of the discussions of prices increasing. We realized in voting the affirmative, that the price would likely be a bit higher, but NOT thousands of dollars higher.
At the January meeting, the Board authorized the committee to start to prepare a draft annexation application for Enewetak Lane and 69710 Lake Drive. "Board authorizes expenditure NTE $1000 for this purpose. Not including legal fees". We recall a figure being discussed for gravel, NTE on Emerald Valley Road ($10k NTE, not in the minutes), and Jim pointed out that the figures given for the otta seal did not include gravel on all of the roads. Are there more costs that we will need to know about? It is noted that Nyle was to get a bid for 3000' of gravel on Emerald Valley Road as the one you have was for 1000'.
Last night another $500. (NTE) for annexation wording and possible legal fees involved in the wording of the annexation application/letter.
Then a discussion of if property owners would be responsible for the entrance area of our driveways, from the otta seal. We do not recall the exact wording used for this area, but believe it was referred to as "aprons". That should have been known prior to the figures being given.
ALL of these things sound like more money to us. When the ballot said "about", we were concerned about voting in the affirmative without a known figure, and that concern is proving to be real.
At some point (sooner rather than later) we plan to apply for a second mortgage so that we will get the tax benefits available to us on these monies.
At what point does the board think they will have the actual figure that each home/landowner will need both with and without financing? It was stated last night that financing was being explored, how can that be done, not knowing the total? Are some of the monies mentioned, being paid for with the balance of the taxpayer's monies now in the Road Board Account?
We will admit we are a bit concerned about the rising costs after only two meetings since the ballot passed.
WHAT do the board and special committee feel the real actual cost will be? We assume that all of the incurred legal fees and assessments will be split between all of us, not just those financing as someone mentioned in a prior meeting. (We agree that financing costs should be the responsibility of those financing, but do not agree with any party not sharing the legal fees involved in this project nor the assessment and bid costs received along the way.) Was that ever decided after a bit of a heated debate at one meeting?
We have not questioned the road board or special committee in the past. In fact, we went and looked at the roads in LaPine and Bend, and communicated our like of the otta seal with the special committee and the road board. We also talked it up with neighbors after seeing it and noting it was not black nor asphalt.
However, there seem to be many more costs that are being discussed. Attorney fees, bringing the roads up to the point of being able to otta seal them, and other side discussions going on last evening.
We would like to know WHAT our costs are going to be, as anything above the "about $5130.00" we would like a break down of and plan to question. We thought we might seek a HELOC of $6000.00, however at this point, that would not be enough. The actual costs of this road upgrade are still very unknown.
We would appreciate the open discussion and question that this format offers and hope to have a reply to all, again, sooner, rather than later, as we are certain we are not the only ones questioning these things.
Regards,
Henry & Kerry Zenich
Green Ridge Loop
Thank you, Jim. We would have had to dig through every document to find these. Much appreciated! ~Henry & Kerry